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THE HIGHER ED MOMENT YOU’VE BEEN WAITING FOR: The Obama administration is moving forward with a bold regulatory proposal that could shutter hundreds of degree programs that fail to place their graduates in well-paying jobs, leaving them bogged down by debt and few marketable skills. As many as 1 million students could be affected by the much-anticipated “gainful employment” regulation, which builds on President Barack Obama’s “year of action.” But Education Secretary Arne Duncan stressed that programs would have a few years to improve before facing sanctions. “The goal is not program elimination,” he said. “The goal is program improvement.” A previous version of the regulation was shot down by the courts, but analysts like New America Foundation’s Ben Miller say another lawsuit over the latest draft is all but inevitable. Stephanie Simon and I break it all down: http://politi.co/1iHi0eC.

— The details: The regulation would apply to all types of institutions, but for-profit colleges would bear the brunt of the sanctions. They offer the most degree programs considered poor-performing under the administration’s formula. Starting in 2016, programs would be targeted if their graduates’ average loan payments eat up 8 percent or more of their total earnings or 20 percent or more of discretionary earnings. They would also be flagged if the default rate for former students exceeds 30 percent. If a program fails to clear those bars two out of three consecutive years, the federal government would refuse to extend financial aid to any student in the program. That would choke off the colleges’ primary spigot of revenue — and effectively force them to close shop. Even more details will arrive when the official language of the rule goes public today.

— Sen. Tom Harkin wants a stronger proposal. “I am grateful the secretary moved forward with the re-regulation of this important rule,” he said. “However, based on what I’ve seen so far, I once again have serious concerns with this proposed rule’s ability to protect students and taxpayers from costly programs that consistently overpromise and underdeliver.

— “A sham,” was what Steve Gunderson, president of the Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities, called the proposal. “If the regulation were applied to all of higher education, programs like a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University, a law degree from George Washington University Law School and a bachelor’s degree in social work from Virginia Commonwealth University, would all be penalized.”

— At least 32 states are working together to investigate for-profit colleges, and 14 of those have already filed subpoenas for information and several more are working independently on similar cases. More from the Hechinger Report: http://bit.ly/1kiEfFa.

COMMON CORE AD BLITZ TARGETS CONSERVATIVES: The Business Roundtable, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and others will launch a national advertising blitz Sunday aimed at persuading Republicans who are hinging on the Common Core. The spots promoting the standards will air on Fox News and other conservative outlets and they strike a positive tone with teachers praising the standards. The campaign is a major ad buy that could last for months and aims to undercut dire tea party warnings that the standards amount to a federal power grab, akin to Obamacare.

— In a parallel effort unfolding mostly in deep red states, thousands of small business owners and corporate executives have been bombarding state lawmakers with emails, calls and personal visits to emphasize that better standards will mean a better workforce and ultimately, a better economy. The overall strategy: Give conservatives reasons to support the Common Core and tell them they’ll reap dividends if they do. “We’re telling the legislature that this is our No. 1 issue,” said Todd Sanders, CEO of the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. “We will be watching.”

— But tea party activists aren’t intimidated. They’re convinced the business community’s tactics will backfire. “Frankly, they can rant and rave as much as they want. They’re not going to affect me and I don’t think they’re going to affect any others,” Arizona state Sen. Al Melvin said. “I’m a businessman. But sometimes, these chambers of commerce get it wrong.” Stephanie Simon has the scoop on the ad blitz:http://politico.pro/1iICDCQ

IT’S PI DAY FRIDAY, MARCH 14. To celebrate this international day of math learning, kids from the New York City charter school network Uncommon Schools will be throwing pies in the faces of their willing teachers. But I probably won’t do the same for my bosses [http://bit.ly/1iFrjMg]. Don’t forget to send your tips, clips and amusing GIFs to cemma@politico.com and @caitlinzemma. Events: educalendar@politicopro.com. And follow us on Twitter: @morning_edu and @POLITICOPro.

DUNCAN TO TALK TEACHER VOICE: Education Secretary Arne Duncan will address a hall full of teachers at today’s conference of the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards in D.C. — and he’s expected to use the talk to promise to be a better listener. Morning Education has learned that Duncan will address complaints that teachers haven’t played enough of a role in crafting education policy. He is expected to discuss his plans for expanding teacher voice. That’s a message that will likely resonate widely with the audience — and with the big teachers unions, which have been pressing this point for years.

GATES MOUNTS GARRISON FOR COMMON CORE: Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates will speak at the same Teaching & Learning Conference. He is expected to ask educators to join the sales force for the Common Core, which the Gates Foundation has spent millions to develop and promote. He’ll urge teachers to talk to parents about the standards, clear up any confusion and dispel claims of federal overreach. Teachers and students making the transition in the classroom won’t find it easy, he’ll say, but that’s to be expected. Gates is also expected to share his vision for how the Common Core will lead to greater innovation, as entrepreneurs develop new learning apps that can be marketed across the country. Gates’s session kicks off at 1 p.m.: http://bit.ly/1lCa4Zt

WASHINGTON’S NCLB WAIVER DOOM: Legislation crafted to save Washington state’s No Child Left Behind waiver died Thursday night when state lawmakers adjourned on the last day of the legislative session without a fix. The Education Department placed the waiver on high-risk status because the state doesn’t require the use of statewide assessment data in its teacher evaluation system. Lawmakers couldn't compromise on a bill that would accomplish that; schools remain limited to using local test results for grading teachers. “We have to assume the waiver is gone next year,” Alan Burke, a statewide deputy superintendent, told The News Tribune. The loss would translate into school districts losing control over about $38 million in Title I dollars and shifting another $19 million in Title I money to professional development and teacher training. More: http://bit.ly/1oS0fqn.

CHILD CARE BILL SAILS THROUGH SENATE: The Senate easily passed the Child Care and Development Block Grant on Thursday, updating a federal child care program that hadn’t been modernized in 18 years — and proving the Senate still capable of passing a bill with an open amendment process. Maggie Severns recaps the action: http://politico.pro/1iGjkdt And here’s a summary of the bill: http://1.usa.gov/1haajrX.

— “This is a small but significant step on the road to repairing a broken Senate,” Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said. “The fact that both sides worked together on an important bill and were able to fend off difficult amendments in order to pass it should pave the way for future bills to pass, and soothe some of the damaged feelings in the Senate.”

— The bill passed 96-2. Both of the dissenting votes came from Senators who had amendments that failed: Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.). Not voting: Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas).

'OPEN MIKE' LAUNCHES WITH MACON PHILLIPS: Check out the debut video of POLITICO's new weekly series, "Open Mike," featuring a conversation between Mike Allen and the digital diplomacy lead at the State Department, Macon Phillips. Watch Phillips' take on how social media and digital strategies are helping shape diplomacy in Ukraine, and hear his thoughts on the popular Deathstar petition: www.politico.com/open-mike/.

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

— Michael Yudin, the Education Department’s Acting Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, was elected chairman of The Access Board: http://1.usa.gov/1nnyw5z.

— Democrats for Education Reform launched a Texas branch Thursday and Jennifer Kohn Koppel will serve as state director. Koppel was most recently vice president of growth for IDEA Public Schools, a network of public charter schools serving low-income students in Texas: http://bit.ly/1iFX2IM.

— As some in Massachusetts grow skeptical, federal and state officials are fully on board with the Common Core and PARCC. MassLive: http://bit.ly/1cD3PET.

— Lawmakers in Indiana give a new preschool pilot program the green light. Indianapolis Star: http://indy.st/PxIVNi.

— The Education Department's Office for Civil Rights will investigate whether Buffalo, N.Y., schools discriminate against nonwhite students, in part because so few are admitted to district schools that have admissions criteria. Buffalo News: http://bit.ly/1fX2bi3.

— After a parent conflict, Denver public schools offers guidance on how to treat families that opt out of state assessments. Chalkbeat Colorado: http://bit.ly/1cCJS0G.

— The Illinois state board of education scraps a policy limiting the number of times prospective teachers can take required basic skills tests to boost teacher diversity. Catalyst Chicago: http://bit.ly/1oQOyjS.

#ASKPOLITICO TODAY AT NOON: Join POLITICO Magazine Editor Susan Glasser, author of the book “Kremlin Rising,” for a live Twitter chat on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Ukraine gamble and the crisis in Crimea. Tweet your questions with hashtag #ASKPOLITICO.